Work-clamp for slide-lathes



(No Model.)

G. F. BALLOU.

WORK CLAMP FOR SLIDE LATHES.

No. 359,876. Patented Mar. 15, 1887.

NITED STATES GEORGE F. BALLOU, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

WORK-CLAMP FOR SLlDE-LATHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,376fdated. March 15, 1887.

Application filed June 9, 1886. Serial No. 204,620. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BALLOU, o Waltham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Work-Clamps for Slide-Lathes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The work-clamp or vise of this invention is more particularly designed and intended for use in slide-lathes of the general construction and arrangement of parts, including the sliderest and slide-carriage, fully shown and described in a separate application for Letters Patent of the United States of even date herewith, filed June 9, 1886, Serial No. 204,624; but, as will be obvious from the description hereinafter given, this clamp or vise is adapted to be used in slide-lathes and with slide-rests and slide-carriages of other constructions and arrangements of parts.

This invention, in substance, consists of a clamp or vise to be used in slide-lathes for clamping work in position to be operated upon therein-as, for instance, to be drilled, bored, milled, Ste-composed of two clamping-jaws, each carried by separate frames, constructed and arranged to be held together, and so held to be capable of a movement or slide rectilinearly upon each other and in a direction and manner thereby to adjust their clampingfaces in relation to each other and to the holding of work between them, in combination with a slide-rest of a slidelathe made in separate parts, or slides constructed and applied together to be moved and adjusted upon each other in parallel and rectilinear planes and directions, and as a whole adapted to be secured to the lathe bed or shears, and, preferably, for adjustment longitudinally,vertically, and horizontally thereon, and having said clamp attached to one and the upper of its slides to be swung and adjusted thereon in a curvilinear direction and horizontal plane, and, so swung and adjusted, fastened against movement.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification the improved work-clamp or vise .of this invention and its combination with the slide-rest and slide-carriage of a slide-lathe before referred to are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the lathe-bed broken away, and a view in elevation of the work-clamp or vise of this invention and of the slide-rest and slide-carriage from the head-stock end of the lathe, the head and tail stocks being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts as shown, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the workclamp and slide-rest, with parts broken out and in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a Vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a modification in construction of the worlcclamp. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of one of the sliding frames of the work-clamp shown in the pre ceding figures, Fig. 7 relating to the workclamp as it is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and Fig. 8 as it is shown in'Figs. 5 and 6.

In the drawings, A represents the lathe bed or shears of aslide-lathe. The slide-lathe in any and all respects, except as to the features of this invention hereinafter described, may be of any of the ordinary and Well-known constructions and arrangements of slide-lathes; but a slide-lathe and a slide-carriage and a slide-rest therefor, all such as shown and de scribed in the application stated, are most preferable, and which, so far as necessary for this invention, are shown and will be herein described, it not being thought necessary to fully illustrate the other parts thereof, as they in no particular form any part of the present invention.

M is the upperv leading-screw of the slidelathereferrcd to. The upper leading-screw, M, and also the lower leading-screw, (not shown,) are connected and rotated from .the rotation of the lathe-arbor and otherwise, as described in said application. The rotation of the leading-screws is for the purpose of moving a slide-carriage lengthwise along the front cheek of the lathe bed or shears, and which carriage is suitably constructed therefor, and the upper leadingscrew, M, which is for fine work, connects with horizontal sectional or half screw-nuts D (one only shown, but two being preferable) of the slide-carriage, and the lower leading-screw, (not shown,) which is for general work, connects with the slide-carriage by mechanism consisting, among other parts, of ahand-wheel, (not shown,) and otherwise all as fully described and shown in the application aforesaid, and the whole such ICO as to enable the slide-carriage to be moved lengthwise of the lathe-bed in either direction, and either from the action of the driving mechanism of the lathe or by the handwheel, and also to enable the speed of such movement to be varied and adjusted and either of the leadingserews to be brought into action upon the slide earriage,and all asis fully shown and set forth in the application aforesaid. These several parts and their combination and arrangement, as above referred to, form of themselves no part of this invention, and so it is not deemed necessary to herein further describe them.

The slide-carriage is in two parts-to wit, a vertical plate or block, 13", with a front flat face and a back face of angular shape to fit a corresponding angular-shaped guideway, C, therefor of the front check of the lathe-bed, and a bracket with an upright portion, B, arranged to move vertically in a dovetail way, B, of the front face of the block B, and ahorizontal arm, D which projects from the upper end of said upright B and at right angles to the length of the slide-carriage, and is made of fork shape, and preferably with the space between its tines open at the front end, B.

The bracket B B is vertically adjustable on the slide-carriage through the turning of a vertical screw -rod, B engaging with the vertical screw-nut portion B of the bracket, and turning loosely within a horizontal bearingblock, B, of the slidecarriage, and therein confined againstlengthwise movement in any suitable manner. lhisserew-rod B by which to adjust thebracket B B vertically, as above stated, has at its lower end a milledhead, B peripherally and properly graduated in one hundred equal parts or divisions, each representing a one-thousandth of an inch, and figured for the rise and fall of the bracket from the turning of said screw to be measured and determined in one-thousandth parts of an inch, using a suitable indexmark at the front side of the bearing-block 3 of the screw-rod.

The vertically-adjustable bracket 13* B of slide-carriage supports and carricsa slide-rest in two horizontal parts or Slides, 0 and O, placed upon each other. Slide (E -the lower slide of the two slides of the slide-rest-is made with flaring edges d, which fit and set over corresponding flaring edges of the brackettable 13 Thedirection of these flaring edges transversely to the width of the brackettable B and as shown, is preferabl y such as to permit slide C to be set bodily upon the brackettable B without requiring it to be slid lengthwise along the same, and otherwise all arranged for slide C", with all other parts connected therewith, to be moved horizontally on the table B forward to and backward from the axial line of thelatlie-arbor. (Not shown.)

C is a screw-bolt projecting downward from slide 0 of slide-rest, and between the tines of the forked table B and O is a screw or thumb nutscrewing on said bolt and fastening said slide 0 to table 13 and against movement thereon. Slide 0 of the slide-rest fits by a dovetail way in its under side over a corresponding dovetail projection, G", on the upper side of the lower slide, 0, and thus slides G C are adapted for a movement of the upper slide on the lower slide of the two, and in a horizontal plane, and one parallel with and in the direction of the horizontal slide of the lower slide, C, on bracket B B Slide 0 has a circular and vertical edge marked off or graduated in representation of the degrees of a circle, Fig. 1, and it is provided with a horizontal screw-rod, G which engages with a screwnut, G, and turns loosely in a bearingblock, O, of the lower slide, 0", and by peripheral collar and groove (not shown) is engaged with bearing-block C", and this screw-rod C when turned, is confined against lengthwise movement through said block.

0 is a milled head of screw 0'. This head is peripherally graduatedin one hundred equal parts, each using a su tably-located index-mark as a guide, representing, in the movement of the slide operated by the screwa'od, a onethousandth part of an inch.

E is one frame or slide, and E the other frame or slide, of the clamp of this invention, for clamping work to be drilled or otherwise operated on in the lathe. The clamp-slide E is the base-plate, as it were, of the clamp, and it contains the clamp-slide E, and the two are joined by a dovetail projection, E, and way E, so that they can be moved or slid lengthwise and in a right line upon each other.

e As shown, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, the dovetail projection E is on the base-slide E, and dovetail way E on upper slide, it, and, Figs. 5 and 8, the dovetail projection is on upper slide, E and the dovetail way on base'slide E, and in both instances such as to make close fit one with the other, and a fit suitable for the parts to be moved upon each other in the direction of their said dovetail projection and wa The lower or base slide, E, of the clamp, and which receives the upper slide, E", as before stated, is provided with an attachable and detachable cross-piece, E making one jaw of the clamp. This jaw E crosses the upper face, and is located between two parallel cross-pieces, E E, of the upper face of slide E", and the cross-piece E makes one and the remaining jaw of the clamp. The cross-piece i of slide E has a set or thumb screw or screws, E screwed into it, and in a line parallel with the movement of clamp-slide E on slide E, and suitable to make a bearing against edge E of the clamping-jaw on slide E. Working the screws against the edge E of jaw E moves the slides E i" of the clamp upon each other in opposite directions, to open and close the jaws E 19 as to their opposite par allel and clamping edges, E E, and thereby securing in the one case the unclamping from, and in the other case the clamping between,

said edges of a piece of work-such, for indiameter of the circular and stance, as a block, 0, Fig. l.

The lower or base slide, E, of the work-clamp sets upon the upper slide, 0, of the slide-rest, and it is of a width corresponding to the graduated rim or edge of said slide. Again, slide E of the clamp is arranged to swing around a vertical central pintle, C, of rest-slide 0*, and using a suitable index-mark, Fig. 1, of its edge with the graduations of the circular edge of slide 0* the clamp can thus be adjusted definitely in a curvilinear direction and the work secured thereon placed in any angular direction desired in relation to the rectilinear movements of the partsof the slide-rest on each other, and of the slid est, asa whole, on the slide-carriage and the slide-carriage with the slide-rest on the lathe-bed. The slide E of the work-clamp has acircularrunning groove, 0 of T shape in cross-section and concentric with theaxis of swing of the clamp around the central pintle, C, of slide-rest, and C are bolts at opposite diametrical points and engaged by their T-shaped heads with said T- shaped grooves 0 These bolts 0 pass loosely through the thickness of slide 0", and on the under side of the'slide each bolt receivesa screw-nut, C". Tightening the screwnuts O" fastens the clamp to, and loosening them releases the clamp from, slide-rest, leaving it free to be swung around on the same.

In the practical use ot'the work-clamp, and with it attached to a slide-rest, as described, the jaw E on slide E is stationary, and the jaw E on slide E under the action of the set or thumb screws E is moved forward and backward inrelation thereto; and with a clamp of the construction and combination thereof with a slide-rest and slide-carriage, all substantially as has been described, plainly the work secured in the clamp between the clamping-edges of its jaws can be presented to the tool of the lathepractically in any and all horizontal directions and angles, each presentation being independent of the others.

The work-clamp herein described is most particular] y applicable to the slide-lathe, sliderest, and slide-carriage herein referred to; but it is not to be limited thereto.

Again, the work-clamp of this invention is most serviceable as a means of holding work for being drilled, bored, milled, and otherwise opei-ated upon in a slide-lathe, and it is particularly adapted for use with the verticaldrilliug fixture making the subject of separate application for Letters Patent of the United States of even date herewith.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a slide-lathe, in combination, a clamp or vise to clamp work, composed of two clamping-jaws and separate frames, or slides for each jaw constructed and applied together to slide one upon the other, and a slide-rest made in separate parts, or slides constructed and applied together to be moved and adjusted one upon the other in parallel and rectilinear planes and directions, and having said clamp connected and secured thereto and arranged to swing thereon, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. A clamp or vise for use in a slide-lathe to clamp work, composed of stationary and moving clamping-jaws E E, carried by separate frames or slides E E", respectively, constructed with an engaging dovetail projection, E, and way E, and a cross-piece, E of slide E", having an adjusting screw or screws, E in combination with a slide-rest composed of slides C and 0*, rectilinearly adjustable one upon another, and having the said clamp arranged to swing about a central pintle, C, of and to be secured to rest-slide 0*, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. F. BALLOU.

WVitnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, FRANCES M. BROWN. 

